Regulations for Visitors to the Reading Room

The records available for use in the National Archives Building are unique and irreplaceable. The reading room is a common workplace for many people. Thus, it is necessary to enforce rules that ensure the safekeeping of the records as well as satisfactory working conditions for everyone.

Welcome to the National Archives (Riksarkivet) and the Regional State Archives of Oslo (Statsarkivet i Oslo). We welcome everyone whether you are a professional researcher, investigating legal rights or tracing your ancestors. This building is equipped for disabled persons.

You will find the reference desk and the reading room upstairs on Level 3. The café (open 10.30 am-2pm Monday-Friday) and toilets are located on Level 2.

Please do not hesitate to ask for help.

While visiting the archives, please observe the following rules:

Regulations for Visitors to the Reading Room

Current as of 18 February 2014

1. Visiting the National Archives Building

Visitors must register at the reception desk on arrival and when leaving the building.

On the first visit visitors must show a valid ID and fill in a registration form, after which the visitor receives a reader’s ticket to be shown on later visits.

Portfolios, large handbags, plastic bags and the like must be left in the reception office.

Only necessary papers, portable computers and writing material are allowed in the reading room. The receptionist is authorized to check such items when the visitor leaves the building. Visitors intending to bring with them into the reading room documents that might be mistaken for archival material should therefore declare them to the receptionist on arrival.

Coats must be left in the cloakroom where lockers are provided.

Visitors are admitted to the foyer, exhibition areas, reference room and reading room. If you wish to contact personnel elsewhere in the building, please enquire with the desk staff in the reference room or in the reception.

Visitors may bring their own food and beverages to the cafeteria. Eating or drinking is prohibited in the reading room as well as in area outside the reading room.

Please be silent in the reading room and be considerate to others when using portable electronic devices. Mobile phones must be in silent mode when you are in the reading room as well as in the reference room.

CCTV cameras are in operation in the reading room.

2. Loans to the Reading Room

Archival material for use in the reading should be requested in advance on www.arkivportalen.no. For assistance, please contact the desk staff in the reference room. The staff will give you instructions and advice, and assign you a desk in the reading room where you can access the material.

The staff at the librarian’s desk in the reference room provides information on printed literature. We provide special requisition slips for printed literature. We do not lend books for use outside the reading room.

Archival material and books ordered will be brought to your assigned desk. When finished the visitor must return the material to the reading room inspector. On request the material may be reserved for up to one week.

Before using copied documents (bound paper copies, microfilms, microfiche), visitors should ask the reading room inspector for instructions. You may help yourself to any books placed on the shelves in the reading room.

3. Using Archival Material

Archival documents must be handled with care. You should not use them as support for writing, or make any marks in them. You must never remove any of the contents from the archival records.

Records may only be taken away from your assigned desk if you need advice concerning the contents or if it has been approved for photocopying. You should always ask the reading room inspector before moving any records.

Archival material must not be disarranged. Visitors are permitted to have a limited amount of bound volumes or record boxes on their desks at one time. Only one box or parcel may be opened at one time. The order of loose records must not be rearranged. This also applies to documents selected for copying. In your own interest, you should inform the reading room inspector if you come across any material in disorder.

Please respect the written sources. Always write down where the information has been found. Guests who have been given access to material which is subject to secrecy have a duty not to disclose any confidential information.

4. Taking Photos or Ordering Copies

Visitors may take photographs of archival material with their own scanner or digital camera, however only under the condition that the material is not physically damaged. The archival staff determines whether material is suitable for being photographed/scanned. There are separate desks for taking photos. The use of flash is not permitted. Photographic material, maps and documents written on parchment are examples of records which may not be photographed or scanned in the reading room. Protocols are not allowed for scanning.

To order photocopies of archival material (fee applies), please enquire with a member of staff.

5. Using the Reading Room Desks

The desks in the reading room are for visitors using archival or library material. There are no reservations for permanent desks. Seats are assigned by the reading room inspector.

6. Violations of these Regulations

In the case of a serious violation of these regulations, visitors may be refused admission to the reading room. Theft or willful damage will be reported to the police.